The National Archives Education Service The Sinking of the · PDF fileThe National Archives...

The National Archives

Education Service

The Sinking of the

Titanic

Preparation materials for

videoconference/virtual

classroom (KS3)

COPY1/566

The Sinking of the Titanic Preparation materials for videoconference/virtual classroom (KS3)

2

Teacher’s notes 3

Document 1: J 54/1548 5

The statement of Claim and Verdict in the case of Ryan v. the Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd

Transcript 1: J 54/1548 7

Document 2: MT 9/920 F 9

Report of Survey of an Emigrant Ship, April 1912.

Transcript 2: MT 9/920 F 10

Document 3: MT 9/920 D 12

Extract from Alfred Ormont’s account of his escape from the Titanic

Transcript 3: MT 9/920 D 13

Document 4: COPY 1/556 14

RMS Titanic Lifeboat No. 6 approaches the rescue ship Carpathia.

Contents


3

This pack of documents and transcripts will allow you to prepare your students for the videoconference /

virtual classroom session. It is vital that all students complete the preparatory work beforehand, so that they

are fully prepared for the session.

This session will investigate why so many lives were lost in the sinking of Titanic. Through close analysis of

documents held at The National Archives, students will identify and link different causes of loss of life,

reaching a conclusion about which factors were most significant.

Preparation activity

In preparation for this session, students will need to read through Document 1 (J 54/1548) and answer the

following questions:

1. What type of document is it, and when was it produced?

2. Who is Thomas Ryan, and why has he taken ‘The Oceanic Steam Navigation Company’ to court?

3. Patrick Ryan was a passenger on Titanic. Under ‘Particulars of negligence’, it lists causes of his death. Find as

many different causes as you can.

Background information

Over two-thirds of passengers and crew lost their lives in the freezing North Atlantic water when the

world’s largest and most luxurious passenger liner struck an iceberg just before midnight on 14th April

1912. In response to widespread shock and public outcry, the British Government ordered an inquiry

to investigate how the ‘unsinkable’ ship could have foundered on her maiden voyage. Evidence

submitted included testimonies from passengers and crew, ship building plans, accounts from

experts, photographs and emergency telegrams. The Court concluded that the disaster was caused

by ‘excessive speed’; however over 100 years later, debate and controversy still continues to

surround Titanic. Others have looked to the insufficient lifeboat capacity, the flawed ship design, lack

of organisation, poor visibility, even the missing binoculars, to explain one of the greatest maritime

disasters in history.

Teacher’s notes


4

Useful links

The National Archives’ Titanic online exhibition, displaying passenger and crew lists, videos, podcasts and a timeline:

www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/titanic/

Online Titanic lesson:

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/life-aboard-titanic/

‘Women and Children First’ podcast:

www.media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/women-and-children-first/

‘The Official Titanic Story’ podcast:

www.media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/titanic-the-official-story/

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/titanic/

http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/life-aboard-titanic/

http://www.media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/women-and-children-first/

http://www.media.nationalarchives.gov.uk/index.php/titanic-the-official-story/


5

Suing the owners; the statement of Claim and Verdict in the case of Ryan v. the Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd, 30 June 1912.

Document 1: J 54/1548


6


Document 1: J 54/1548 continued


7


In the High Court of Justice. 1912. R.

No. 1111.

King’s Bench Division.

Writ issued the 3rd day of July 1912.

BETWEEN THOMAS Ryan Plaintiff

and

THE OCEANIC STEAM NAVIGATION Defendants

COMPANY LIMITED

STATEMENT OF CLAIM.

The Plaintiff brings this action for the benefit of himself the father of Patrick Ryan deceased he having

suffered damage from the Defendants’ negligence in carrying the said Patrick Ryan on their

Steamship “Titanic” on a voyage from Queenstown to New York hereby the said Patrick Ryan was

drowned in consequence of the said ship colliding with an Iceberg and foundering in the North

Atlantic Ocean on the 15th April 1912.

Particulars of negligence.

The negligence of the Defendants servants consisted in this that they navigated the said Ship at an excessive speed and at an improper speed in view of the conditions then prevailing namely the exceptional darkness of the night the hazy condition of the atmosphere the absence of wind and movement of the sea at and immediately preceding the time of the collision and of the presence of icebergs and fields of ice in the course of the said vessel: that while knowing of the presence of the said ice they failed to alter their course or to diminish their speed so as to avoid the same and failed to provide a sufficient and proper look-out therefor and to supply look-out men with Binoculars: that no adequate lifeboat accommodation was provided on the said Ship having regard to the number of passengers and crew she was then carrying: and that the Defendants failed to have the said crew sufficiently drilled and organized for the work of manning filling and launching such lifeboats as were provided.

Transcript 1: J 54/1548


8

Particulars pursuant to Statute are as follows : –

Thomas Ryan the father of the deceased.

The nature of the Claim in respect of which damages are sought

The said Patrick Ryan was a Cattle Dealer and had been earning about £2 per week and was the sole

support of the Plaintiff, who by his said death has lost all means of support and living.

The Plaintiff claims damages.

THOMAS SCANLAN.

DELIVERED this 12th day of October 1912 by HERBERT Z. DEANE of 265 Strand London, W.C. Solicitor for the Plaintiff.

Transcript 1: J 54/1548 continued


9

Report of Survey of an Emigrant Ship, April 1912

Document 2: MT 9/920 F


10

M23780 Surveys 27.

REPORT OF SURVEY OF

AN EMIGRANT SHIP. NOTE – Cancel the portions of this form that do not apply.

SHIP.

Name and official

number.

Port of registry.

Tonnage.

Single, twin, triple or

quadruple screw. Registered

horse-power.

Where and when built.

Where and when last seen

in dry-dock. Gross Net

‘Titanic’ 131.428

Liverpool 46328.57 21831.34 Triple Screw Belfast 1912 Belfast 6-3-12

Date of expiration of passenger certificate.

Mean draught of water and freeboard.

Name and address of owner or agent.

Intended voyage.

2-4-13 34.0 31.4

Oceanic Steam Navigation Co. Ltd. 30 James Street, Liverpool

Foreign

MASTER AND OFFICERS.

Rank. Name in full. Number of certificate. Grade.

Master Edward John Smith 14102 Ex master

First mate [arrow to second mate] Wm. McMaster Murdoch

028780 Ex master

Second mate [arrow to first mate] Henry Tingle Wilde Char. Herbert Lightoller

027371 029706

Ex master Ex master

First engineer Joseph Bell 19224 1st class

Second engineer Wm. Edward Farquahson 32883 1st class

Transcript 2: MT 9/920 F


11

LIFE-SAVING APPLIANCES

Description of boats and

rafts

No. Cubic contents in

feet

No. of persons they will

accommodate

Materials No. under davits

Are they so placed as to be readily got into

the water?

Are they provided with the

equipments required by the rules?

Boats, Section A. Boats, ,, B. Boats, ,, C. Boats, ,, D. Boats, ,, E. [Englehart collapsible] Life rafts

14 - - - 2 4 -

9172 648 -

910 80 188

Wood Wood Wood

14 2 -

Yes Yes Yes

Yes Yes Yes

Number of life belts. Number of life buoys. Is the ship supplied with all the life-

saving appliances required by the rules?

3560 48 Yes

(322s) (61352) Wt.27577/G.143. 1000 11-10 W B & L

Transcript 2: MT 9/920 F continued


12

Extract from Alfred Ormont’s account of his escape from the Titanic – statement of evidence to the British Commission of Enquiry, 1912.

Document 3: MT 9/920 D


13

Extract from Alfred Ormont’s account of his escape from the Titanic – statement of evidence to the British Commission of Enquiry, 1912.

One of the lookout men was in our [life] boat. He told me that he had seen the iceberg about

3 minutes before the shock [accident]. I am no sailor, but if he did so, we must take into

consideration that the ship was going 20 miles an hour at least, i.e. he saw the iceberg 1760

yards (and advised it) before meeting it.

I consider as a passenger that two people knew that icebergs were around us – these two are

the head of the company and the Captain – I ask, how is it that neither of those two said a

word for the safety of the passengers? We passengers always consider that we have to deliver

our own safety to the captain, and therefore have a right to know if our life is properly looked

after, and if in case of records for speed we have to risk it, for the benefit of companies.

Transcript 3: MT 9/920 D


14

RMS Titanic Lifeboat No. 6 approaches the rescue ship Carpathia

Document 4: COPY 1/556

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